CONTENTS

Message from the Headmaster

Editorial

School Appointments

School Notes and News

Mr. R.E. Page

School Open Day

The Annual Prize Giving

Prize Lists

Sports Review, 1959

School Sports Day

Inter House Athletics Results

Staff v Boys Cricket Match

Impressions of Barnsbury

Rugby Team

Literary Section

MESSAGE FROM THE HEADMASTER

This is the first opportunity I have had at Barnsbury to see our own School Magazine published.

I have great pleasure in welcoming this n~w . venture. The Magazine will perform a valuable service to the school by giving boys an opportunity to write something for publication and by providing an interesting record of school events.

I hope tbat all our boys will support the Magazine so that it may achieve the success which it deserves.T.J.H. Davies.

EDITORIAL

Often the task of an Editor is a thankless one as frequently he has difficulty in getting a sufficient number of articles, and so is obliged to write many of them himself..However, the response evoked by the first number of The Barnsburian has been very enoouraging, and the Editor is grateful that his main funotion has been that of waking a selection from the numerous articles that were submitted to him. A glance at the contents' page, and at the Literary Section will give you an idea of tbe wide range of topics that have been discussed or written about. Clearly, there is opportunity for everybody to be able to contribute something to the School Magazine.

As the Head Master has said, the School Magazine can play a valuable part in the life of the Sohool, and its success depends upon your interest and support.

SCHOOL APPOINTMENTS

Autumn Term, 1959. Head Prefect: J. West

Prefects in the 6th Year

M. Belson, R. Brannan, C. Couch, D. Hall, N. House, E. Hussein, W. Harcon, E. Harlow, C. Michaelides,

K. Post, A. Bymill, K. Sharp, A. Stone.

Prefects in the 5th Year

C. Dathorne, D. Decort, C. Docwra, J. Gates, M. Green, P. Hall, B. Head, ? Tones, W?. Jordan,

B. Rogers, J. Smith.

SCHOOL NOTES AND NEWS

'

During the year various school journeys and visits were made. In March Mr. Richards took a party of senior boys to Snowden, and in May he and Mr. Ley went with a group of boys to the Isle of Wight. During the summer holidays Mr. Matthews, Mr.Smeaton, and Mr. Graham organised a holiday in Switzerland for a party of boys.

On the 14th July Open Day was held in the Junior School, and on July 16th one took place in the Senior School. On July 17th, a presentation was made to Mr. Page on his retirement after 26 years' Service in the school, and tribute was paid to him by the Headlliaster, his colleagues, the boys, and by a former pupil.

Mr. Page has made an outstanding contribution to the life of the school, and all of us will miss him very much. We should like to take this opportunity of wishing him much happiness in his retirement. A valedictory notice appears below.

Also, regretfully at the end of the Summer Term we said good-bye to Mr. Clark, Mr. Cocking, Mr. Demolder, Miss Zedes, Mr. Joliffe, Mr. Laniliert, Mr. Huzello, Mr. Parry, Mr. Simms, Mr. Stankiewiz and Mr. Trollope.

We welcome to the School Mr.C.K. Basu ma who will teach Geography and History, Mr.D. Comey to teach. English, Mr. Dewis to teach French, Mr. Goodsall as Head of Technical Studies, Mr. Parker who will teach Carpentry and Joinery, Mr. F. R. Puddefoot ,M. A. as Head of the English Department, Mr. P. Rooke to take Brickwork and Plumbing, and Mr.R.A. Williams, B.A. who is Head of the Modern Languages Department.

MR. R.E. PAGE

Mr. Page, who retired in July, entered the school in 1933, and therefore spent..about 26 years at Barnsbury. He was a man of wide and varied interests, and he believed in enjoying life. For instance, perhaps few know that he was one of the first members of the Boy Scouts organization. Some 'old boys! will remember the dapper figure who took them for P.T. and swimming; and even at the end of his car~er Mr. Page was able to do the most difficult physical exercises. Some,too, will remember the master who tookthe comic role in school plays. Others will recall his Technical Drawing lessons or his "Geography periods"; or they will have memories of Mr. Page conducting a choir or of taking a party of boys on a school journey. What is certain is that none will forget his giving up so much of his free time in order to look after the tuckshop.

As a master and as a colleague we all appreciate Mr. Page as a good friend. We wish him much happiness in his retirement, and know that he will continue to lead a very active life, and that he will enjoy to the full the beauty of the countryside and of his own lovely garden.

NEMO.

SCHOOL OPEN DAY

On Tuesday,July 14th and on Thursday,July 16th ppen Days were held in the School. During the afternoon and evening parents came to visit the school and to see various exhibitions that were held and to consult subject masters about the progress being made by their boys.In the Senior School apart from various display of work in the Science laboratories and subject rooms, there was an exhibition of practical work carried out in the metal work and woodwork departments. .

In the evening, when most of the parents came to the School,various additional items were provided. In thegymnasium a P.T. display was provided, and in the playground different activities, such as cricket and tennis were in progress. . Later in the evening the parents and boys assembled in the hall, where they were addressed by the Headmaster. He said how pleased he was to see the interest shown by so many parents in attending the function, and he was sure that it was valueable for contact to be made between staff and parents, and for the latter to appreciate the important work being done by the School. Mr. Davies concluded by saying that as the Open Day had proved to be such a success,he felt that in future parent-teacher meetings should be held at fairly frequent intervals.

Afterwards a short concert given by the School band, and some mimes presented by a company of Junior boys, provided a fitting climax to the evening's programme.

THE ANNUAL PRIZEGIVING

On the evening of liionday, 26th October the Annual Prize Giving ceremony was held at ltrchway Central Hall, in order to provide accommodation for the very large number of boys and parents.The programme began with an item of music being played by the School Brass Band under the direction of Mr. McHugh. Afterwards, the Chairman of the Governers called upon the Headmaster to give his report for the Year,1958-9.

The Headmaster began by saying that it was a unique occasion for the school to meet as one body in one building, as usually the junior boys and senior boys were separated in two buildings. Mr. Davies stated that the number of boys in the school was over 1,130, and that about 100 boys over the age of 16 were taking G.C.E. and R.S.A. courses. The School had become popular in the neighbourhood, this year 315 new boys had joined the School, and many more than this number had wanted to come to the School.

Mr. Davies then referred to various staff changes mentioning in particular the retirement of Mr. Page, the former Head of

the Technical Drawing Department, who had given 26 years' loyal service to the school.

The Headmaster mentioned the advantages that were being gained from the senior boys being in the new building. In the year that they had been there the boys had learned to appreciate the better surroundings, and the value of the library, which had well over 1,000 books, due much to the extra grant from the London County Council for books. In addition, the Islington Public Library and the L.O.C. Education Library had been very generous in lending certain books to the School Library.

Then Mr. Davies drew attention to the various School activities. The very satisfactory progress of the School Brass Band, which had been in existence for 5 years, was very pleasing. During the year there had been undertaken several School journeys. A party of 40 boys and 3 masters had made a very successful visit to Switzerland and next year it was hoped that journeys would be made to Austria and Spain. In addition, visits had been made to the Isle of Wight,IYlarchant Hill, and Snowden. Mr. Davies 'declared that he felt the visit to Snowden made by a party 20 boys under the leadership of Mr. Richards and Mr. Ley was the type of holiday that was the most suitable for senior boys. Consequently, he recommended it to 'parents as being of value as an healthy, out-of-doors holiday for boys, and next year he hoped to see more senior boys partaking in such a trip. The Camping Club, which had equipment on loan from the L.C.C. had gone to 6 weekend camps, and had enjoyed the use of a canoe that had been made in the School Woodwork Shop.

The School's sporting record was good. The Headmaster mentioned that on 4 mornings of each week the boys went in coaches to sports grounds on which were played a wide variety of games. In Soccer the Seniors had been League Champions, and in Cricket the Seniors had been champions, and the Juniors were unbeaten. In Swimming for the sixteenth successive year the school had been champions in Islington. At this point the Headmaster mentioned the great service given to School Swimming by Mr. Madley.

In Athletics the School bad been second in the Championship. In Rugby the School team bad gained valuable experience by its games against a school team from Wales, and visits had been exchanged between the respective schools. The season this year had opened well by "Mr. Bone's babes" defeating Woodbury Down School by 25 points to nil.

In boxing the results had been good.

The Drama Group had had a successful year, and had presented a mime for the Open Day progrmnme, and had now begun to prepare for the Christmas show.

Afterwards, the Headmaster spoke of the Academic work of the School. There, was a very satisfactory numberof boys staying in the fifth forms, and the G.C.E. results had been most gratifying. In addltion, pleasing results had been obtained in the R.S.A. School Certificate examinations.

Mr. Davies pointed out that these results had been due to the efforts of the boys, none of whom had been considered as outstanding pupils wbsn they entered the school at the age of eleven, and had been due to the good teaching of the staff. Mr davies stressed the value of hard, consistent work, and looked forward to the time when it would be possible for boys to be taught at Advanced level.

The Headmaster mentioned the good start that had been made to the New building Course, and he referred to the fine achievement of Ring, who gained 6 passes in the G. C. E. in winning the Malwwer cup in practical metalwork test.

Some disappointments were referred to by Mr Davies. There were still a few cases of irresponsible behaviour, but they were becoming fewer, owing to the School not being so overcrowded. Comment was made about slovenly speech, which Mr. Davies asserted was due mostly to carelessness. Reference was made to the lack of effort by some boys whose parents wished them to leave before the boys had completed the full four year Course.

Finally, the Headmaster thanked the staff for their loyal support, and effective work, and Mr. Hamm and the secretarial staff for their efficient service. Also, gratitude was expressed to the London County Council, and to the Governors of the School for their continual and sympathetic.support, and encouragement. Thanks were expressed to the parents for their support, and for sending the boys so neatly dressed to school.

The Chairman of the Governors thanked the Headmaster for his most encouraging report, and then called upon Sir Isaae Eaywood the Guest Speaker to present the prizes and G.C.E. and R.S.A. certificates. .

Afterwards Sir Isaac Haywood addressed the school and parents. He sai d that the School was fortunate in having such a good Headmaster and staff, and that the boys should appreciate wheJt was being done for their benefit.Sir Isaac remarked that he wanted to emphasise the great sacrifices made by teachers in giving up much of their free time in order to organise various school activities; the school journey to Snowden was cited as an example of this regard for the welfare of' the boys.

Reference was made to the number of boys staying on at the School after the statutory leaving age. Sir Isaac was very pleased to note this, and he considered that in London soon at least 50% of the' school population would be remaining at school after the age of 15.

Sir Isaac Haywood declared that he was glad to see so many parents at the Prize Giving ceremony, as it was encouraging to see the inter8st shown by parents in the School. He concluded by emphasising that the ultimate success of a school depended upon co-operation between parents and teachers, and upon the encouragement of boys.

After Sir Isaac Haywood had concluded his speech, Mr. H. Sharr, the Deputy Headmaster, expressed a Vote of Thanks to the distinguished Guest Speaker for having come'to distribute the prizes and certificates.

Then the Chairman of the Governors thanked Sir Isaac Haywood for his speech, and thanked the very many parents who hetd come to the ceremony.

The evening's programme concluded with the School Brass Band playing a musical item.

School Prizes OCT.1959

----lA.. l.David Woozley 2, James Allen 3. David Eastman

IB. l John Skinner 2. Robert Fitt 3. John Rooke

lC.. l.Dennis Nicholls 2. Brian Feldon 3. Robin Mayer

1D. Alan Keane 2. William Barnes 3. Michael Young

lE. 1. Christopher Clark 2. Peter Hawkins 3. William Robinson

IF. l. Malcolm Harris 2. Charles bennett 3. Roy Wright

IG. l. John Ayres 2. William Frances 3. James Palmer

IH.. l.Robert Reay 2. Sergonitis Samuel 3. Walter bates

STAFF v. BOYS CRICKET MATCH

For the first game in what will become an annual event the staff team included four 5th year boys. In futhre the team will consist of masters only, some from the other building in Eden Grove.

Mr. Davies, the Headmaster, and Mr. Matthews were umpires in this first very enjoyable game. The school teamcaptain,Peter mansfield, won the toss and put the staff team in first.

In his very first over Walker took two wickets, a habit he had practised in sevaral inter-school games. It was only an excellent innings by Mr. Roberts that prevented a complete collapse of the staff team. First Mr. Freedman and then Mr. Richards kept an end up while Mr. Roberts built up a score of 71. The next highest scorer was Welch who knocked two fours before being bowled by Geater.Facing a total of 92 the school team tried hard for runs but found difficulty in playing some of the fast bowling. They ended with a total of 50, Anderson being top scorer with 10 runs.

STAFF

Mr. Bone, Mr. Freedman, Mr. Graham, Tlr. Ley, Mr. Puddefoot, Mr. Richards, Mr. Roberts, Cutts, Samuels, Todd, Welch. .

SCHOOL TEAMAnderson, Brown, Cork, Devon, Earl, Gaater, Green, Mansfie,ld, Walker, Warner Webster.

ScorerD. Field

SCHOOL RUGBY TEAM

During the two seasons that the school team has been playing, there has been a noticeable and marked improvement in the standard of play and sportsmanship. This standard is now higher than ever, and the players more eager and keen to uphold the school's name.There is now a wide choice of players from which to choose a good team; whereas at the start of the first season that'-the team ever indulged in, to gather fifteen boys outside the school on a Saturday morning took Mr. Bone a great deal of tact and some gentle persuasion. However, the game has caught on and Barnsbury now runs four teams; these are drawn from the fifth and sixth years of the senior school to the (younger) second year of the junior school.

I can only comment, however, on the senior team (the 'under sixteens'), as this is the team to which I devote most of my time.

It is a team of wide and varied characters, ranging from diplomatic-like Gates to bull-like Michaelides.I shall endeavour to give a pen-portait of them in their playing positions (starting with J. West).

J. West, full back. As full back he fills the position admirably. He has the necessary strength for powerful kicking, whic:n has often helped our team to victory. Alsq his powers of recovering a fast and difficult ball are exceptional. He is in fact one of the strongest keystones of the whole teamR. Clark, right wing. Clark is a fast and tactical player but to be really efficient he should pay a little more.attention to the process of passing and receiving the ball; other than this he can mix it t with the best of them.J.B. Gates, right centre (Captain). As captain of the te.am, he holds his piace perfectly with a constant show of gentlemanly behaviour. He has not as yet secored but with the aid of his associate and friend Wooldridge has brought about some highly successful point-scoring moves.T. Wooldridge, left-centre. having one failing; when he to let his feelings get the ability to change direction apponent.He is an excellent player, is angered or arroused he tends. better of him. His speed anq i suddenly make him a dangerou~

Q. Couch, Left~wing. Couch is a fairly good player, but slow to learn from his mistakes, and will keep repeating

them. Apart from this weakness, he has manaaged to score some highly successful tries this season, and I think that he is on the upgrade.E. Geater, outside half. He 1s a more recent addition to the team, and will soon adapt himself to this difficult position, for he is calm under pressure, and thinks and quickly in emergencies. He has grasped the seriousness his position (the link between the scrum and the thre~quarters) .

D. Hall, scrum half. As scrum half he is a tough and determined player, and always enters the fiercest of struggles with a grin.G. Michaelides,back. In this position Michaelides gives of' his best, he has the required strength and staying power to make himself really useful. His tactics vary a great deal, and at the start of the season he was seen to vault over the opposition.C. Dathorne and V. Bcwbyes. These two boys have the drive and stamina that a wing-forward needs, Dathorne has been with the team since it was started, whilst Bowbyes is a player from the fourth year team. He scored an excellent try against Edgware Tec. on Saturday November 7th in an effort to even the score, and I think he will keep the good work up.P. Hall and B. Rogers, second row. Hall and Rogers represent the type of player who enjoys a rougher type of game. Hall has not got a great deal of talent, but plenty of brute strength and determination; this fact (with the rest of the pack) has helped the team no end; whilst Rogers is slightly faster and less prone to tackling.D. Anderson, hooker. Anderson has recently been re-introduced to the team and was up to his old standard when he made his debute on Saturday November 7th against Edgware. He has speed for his bulk, and is constantly amazing me.Smith and Green, prop-forwards. Of the two Green is more of a battering ram in human guise; he will enter any scrum with the power of a dynamo. Once in possession oft the ball he is a formidable target for even the stoute, Smith, however, is more scientific and will, instead of barging through, find an easier way Dut with the ball for a 'loose'.

That is the team, and a rare bunch however, there are others to mention. These wingers Bartlett, and Cutliffe. All these many times in the team, allq. I hope they will do so. hey make. ' are, Jones, have played continue to

B. Head 5A.

MOUNTAINEERING IN SNOWDONIA

Plas-y-Brenin (Palace of the King) is set in t~e be'autiful countryside of Snowdonia amid

exte:p.sive lakes and high mountains. It was founded by King George VI ,and Sir John Hunt, leader of the successful Everest expedition. '

We arrived on the Saturday evening after a very long but pleasant journey. We were first shown round the house by Major Milton, the chief instructor, and then we were allowed to go to our rooms. Although the staff had picked our sleeping partners, most of the boys managed to get with their friends.

After breakfast on Sunday we did some theory work on map reading. This was most interesting and proved very useful in the week that was to come. In the afternoon we donned our boots and anoraks with much we had been issued, and attempted our first mountain Moel Siabod. This mountain consists mainly of hill walking although when we got nearer the summit there was some rock scrambling.

Theory work on living out of doors was on the agenda for Monday. This was also very interesting; we

learned how to use a primus stove. In the afternoon we did some rock climbing. I enjoyed this very much, and as long as you use your common sense you are perfectly safe. We learned how to do the necessa:r: Y knots, and generally "learned the "ropes". In the evening we had films on the various aspects of mountaineering.

On Tuesday we climbed Tryfan. This was a ver much steeper mountain than Moel Siabod, and consisted ofrock scrambling and rock climbing. The part of the course I enjoyed most was the twenty-four hour expedition. We went by truck for tenmiles, but at the end of this ride we started on the eight mile hike. On our backs we had a pack of thirty pounds which consisted of a sleeping bag, billy cans, primus stove, food, and spare clothing. We camped out in ffil old 13th century cottage on straw. The other occupants of the cottage were huge beetles, which crawled up and down the wall. We cooked all our own food satisfactorily, and the next day we returned to the centre.

On Friday we did some more rools: climbing which included assailing and ascending a chimney. In the afternoon we were sent out in groups with a map and compass. We were given questions which we had to answer by going to the spot shown on the map. This was good fun, and most of us got them right. In the evening we had a dance with the party of girls from Birmingham.

On Saturday we sorrowfully left the centre having fully benefited both in mountain climbing and in using our initiative, but none of us got our leg over.

THE SCHOOL JOURNEY TO SWITZERLAND 1959

During the Sillillner nolidays I took part in the school journey to Champery in the canton (county) of Valais in South-West Switzerland. In the past year the members of the staff that were to accompany us (Mr. Smeaton, Mr. Grabmn and Mr. Matthews) were busy organizing and preparing, for what was for most of us, our first holiday abroad.

We left England on the 27th July from Folkstone at about ten o'clock at night aboard a cross-channel ferry. After, what seemed to me to be a very rough crossing, we arrived at Boulogne at a quarter to twelve, and by midnight we were all aboard a French train and heading towards our destination. Most of the boys never got to sleep at all, and I suppose it was almost impossible to do so. As the grey~ ness of the early hours turned to purple and then blue, I could see the flatness of the land. I must confess that it was unlike anything I had seen in England, not a road or house for miles, just flat land farmed in strips. Gradually the scenery changed, and the land became hillier as we approached Switzerland. .

At about ten o'clock we pulled in at Basle, a town on the borders of France, Switzerland and Germany. Here we had breakfast and then boarded a Swiss train which took us to Lausanne, and here we changed again for Aigle. Up till now I had not seen any mountains, but as we approached Aigle they came in view. At Aigle we climbed aboard a rail-car which jerked and squeaked, for what seemed a very long time, until we came to Champery, high up in the mountains. We had been travelling for almost twenty-four hourp in which time I do not think any of us got more than two or three hours' sleep. Unfortunately, the hotel was almost full and most of the party had to go to the annexe farther along the village, while the fifth year, and a few others including myself went to the hotel. From our hotel window we had a magnificent view of the mountains which were coverod in snow at their peaks, but at that moment I was not very interested in mountains, all I wanted was a wash and clean shirt.

That evening after dinner, we had an opportunity to look round the village, and that did not take long. It was a small place with one main street (the only street)' running right through it. It was old and quite attractive really, but there was the inevitable juke-box, and coffeebar and none of the younger people were lacking in the horrible style of clothes now fashionable. The village was situated in a valley surrounded by mountains nine and ten thousand feet high. Whether it was the fact that I had not been to sleep for twenty-fout hours or the mountain air, I fell asleep as my head touched the pillow.

The next morning after breakfast, which consisted of coffee, rolls and butter (the typical continental breakfast) we went for a walk up through the thick forest along a mountain path called the "Galeries", and in the afternoon for a walk along a route which we were to pass next day on a walk I will never forget.

Armed with the toughest pair of I had with me, I set out with the rest under uncertain on a trek up the mountains to attempt to reach a place the Cabane de Sausanne. It would be a long walk, so Mr. Graham," our expert on mountain climbing and hiking, t91d us that the pace would be very slow. After we had done hoursof tiring walking it started to rain. It had rained the day before and the ground was already muddy, and my shoes were beginning to get caked with mud, but that was only tlfe beginning. We kept on going, but the rain came down more' heavily, and eventually it brought us to a stop underneath a fir tree. Some decided to go back, and I cannot say that I blamed them, The rain stopped, and we carried on until we reached a cabin where our lunch could be eaten. After this stop we carried on past waterfalls, and along narrow ledges until I had become soaked through with rain, streamwater and mud. The mountain got steeper, and some of us did not like the idea of carrying on, so it was decided that we should go down, much to our relief. We reached the bottom after a few hours, and the rain had started to come down

again, but we reached our hotel and I climbed the stairs and flopped down thankfully. Looking in the mirror I swore that I'd never go on another climb like that, but looking back, apart from the rain, I think I rather enjoyed it.

After this the weather improved greatly, and the rest of the time was spent on going on some lovely coach trips to Geneva, where a lot of francs were spent, and we saw the place where the foreign ministers were holding their conference, to Lausanne where more francs were spent, to ' V'!f.vey on Lake Geneva which looked more like the French Riviera, to the St. Bernard Pass, and across into Italy along some very winding roads with hairpin bends which the coach driver drove round like Sterling Moss. Here in Italy the mountains were covered with rocks and boulders, and looked quite bare compared with those of Switzerland.We also went to Gryire and a Chocolate factory, where we were given free samples, much to our delight. There were trips to Saas-Pee in the German speaking part, and we passed through the length and breath of Switzerland, passing through many towns by mountainside and lake.

All good things come to an end quickly, and the holiday was no exception. It seemed no time at all before we were packing to leave, and boarding the rail-car to start our homeward journey. On August 8th at three o'clock in the afternoon we arrived at Victoria station, our holiday had ended.

D. BATES? 4A

I was unable to get a good copy of the rest of the magazine which consisted of poetry and short stories not connected with the school. Typeface was just as found. (JS)